Thursday, 18 December 2008

Hi everyone! So....are you all ready for Christmas?! I think I am nearly finished with all of the preparations now. All presents bought, family visited, food order placed, tree bought and decorated. All that's left is to wrap the presents and write my cards. Phew! For some reason, this years prep seemed 1000% more hectic that usual - I barely feel I've spent anytime at home the last couple of weeks! Anyone else feel like that or is it just me being a drama queen?!

I have managed to make a few things though. I made some gorgeous little gift bags and also some nice pieces of jewellery to give to friends and family for Christmas. Unfortunately, I forgot to take any pictures..... Silly Stacey!

However, I did manage to snap a few pics of these cards which I was asked to make by the daughter of one of my colleages. She wanted cards for her little baby boy to give to his grandparents for Christmas. For both of the cards, I adapted one of the Pink Petticoat 'Sweet Cheeks' images simply by adding 'on my' in Paint Shop Pro.

I layered up some plain New Leaf Pink Petticoat paper onto a square card blank and matted onto this some Olive 'O Christmas Tree' paper. I coloured some white ribbon with Promarkers so that it coordinated and wrapped this around the card. The main image was altered slight in Paint Shop Pro and then coloured with Prismacolor pencils and Sansodor. I highlighted with Stickles, mounted onto a Nestie rectangle and added the panel to the card with 3D pads. I finished the card with adhesive gems in each of the corners.

This second card is {secretly!} my favourite! I matted Duck Egg Blue solid paper onto a card blank and then followed this with smaller coordinating layers of 'O Christmas Tree' papers in Merry Christmas and Snowflake designs. I tied white satin ribbon around the central panel and added my Sweet Cheeks image to the card using 3D foam pads. Once again, the finished card was embellished with adhesive gems.

I'm planning to do a little bit of blog hopping today as it is dead at work {naughty I know!}, so don't be surprised if you all get inundated with lots of comments from me as I try my bestest to catch up on all of the beautiful projects you have made over the last couple of weeks!

Saturday, 6 December 2008

I just want to apologise for being such an awful blogger of late. I've barely made it around your blogs and I haven't been posting all that much either. I think it is mostly down to work and Christmas prep distractions but I really just haven't had the will to blog lately. I don't think it helps that the computer is in the spare room and it is blinking freezing in there at the moment! Anyway, I'm sorry for being naughty and for neglecting you all! I will try harder in the new year I promise!

Well, I'm still on the christmas card mission..... and getting nowhere fast really! I've been playing with the CC Design downloads again. Can't leave them alone, they are so cute! I've fancied having a go at a round card for ages so now seemed like as good a time as any!

I cut the blank from pearlescent cardstock, using the largest of my circular Nesties and my trusty cuttlebug. I then cut two further circles of of MME Be Merry papers, trimming one down so that it formed a band across the centre of the card. I coloured my CC angel with Promarkers and added Stickles to her wings for a little bit of sparkle. Once dry, I added her to the centre of the card with 3D pads. Finally, I tidied up the top of the card with a piece of ribbon which was originally a hanging hook inside one of my jumpers!

I hope all of your christmas preparations are going well and that you aren't finding your gift buying too stressful! Take care, wrap up warm and I promise I will be visiting you all soon!

Tuesday, 2 December 2008

Hi all! We're back from Bath. Had a great time, ate, drank and shopped too much - heaven! I also upgraded my phone... After haggling lots (!), I ended up with a shiney new phone AND a Nintendo Wii for the grand total of £30! What a bargain?! I was (and still am!) feeling mightily pleased with myself, I can tell you. Although, after diving round the lounge for a couple of hours last night, my left arm is feeling decidedly sore today!

Anyway, onto crafty matters..... Here is my DT card for sketch 7 of 'Am I a Scrap Addict?'. Unfortunately, I really struggled with this week's sketch and I am not at all happy with the card I've made.... Here it is anyway though :o(

I made this one with a combination of Shabby Princess digi papers and a PC crafter download from the 'Santas Helpers' collection. I coloured the image with my Promarkers and added sparkle to the wings with some Stickles.

Although I'm not massively fond of this card, I am fond of how I altered certain elements of it. The flowers were originally pink and brown but I coloured them with my Promarkers so that they would coordinate with the images and papers. I used the same technique with the ribbon, colouring with a green Promarker. As for the brad holding the flower together, this was originally bright orange but I silver embossed it several times and voila! It became a silver brad!

It's always good to be able to see a silver lining to every big black cloud isn't it?!

About Me

I'm a 30-something blogger who lives in Southampton my lovely husband Alistair
I have been crafting since the start of 2008. I love making cards, but also enjoy whipping up a storm with my sewing machine or a pair of knitting needles!
I've had a little bit of a crafting break over the past couple of years, mainly due to my ridiculously demanding day-job. However, I miss crafting so much that I'm determined to make more time for my hobby!